TACLOBAN CITY, Leyte, Jan.8 (PIA) — The Bureau of Fisheries and Acquatic Resources (BFAR) in the region has announced Friday the lifting of shellfish ban in the coastal waters of Maqueda and Villareal Bays in Samar.
This, after the latest laboratory results dated January 7, 2016 revealed that shellfish samples collected from Maqueda and Villareal Bays in Western Samar are now negative for paralytic shellfish poison or red tide.
BFAR regional Juan D. Albaladejo said this means that the public can harvest, gather, eat and sell shelfish samples from said bays.
However, the coastal waters of Calubian, Leyte; Leyte, Leyte; Naval, Biliran; Daram Island; Irong-Irong bay; Carigara bay and Cambatutay bay in Tarangnan W. Samar remain positive of red tide toxin.
Based on BFAR’s shellfish bulletin no.01 series of 2016, gathering of shellfishes along the coastal waters of Caibiran, Biliran are also not advised due to the presence of toxic microorganisms.
However, fish, squid, shrimps and crabs are safe for human consumption provided they are fresh and washed thoroughly and the internal organs such as gills and intestines are removed before cooking.
Meanwhile, Cancabato bay; San Pedro bay; Babatngon waters; Ormoc bay; all in Leyte; Sogod bay in Southern Leyte; and Matarinao bay in Eastern Samar remain free from red tide toxin. (ajc/PIA-8)
